DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63509#0105
SIR GODFREY KNELLER.
portrait
DIED 1726. AGED 78.
Sir Godfrey Kneller was a native of Lubeck, in the duchy of Holstein,
where he was born in 1648. At an early age, discovering a taste for drawing,
his friends placed him with Ferdinand Bol, a disciple of Rembrandt, under
whom he studied for a considerable time, and to improve himself farther in
the knowledge of his profession, travelled to Rome to consult the works of
the Italian school; after residing there some time, he proceeded to Venice,
and having the good fortune to obtain an introduction to some noble families,
was employed to paint many portraits, and some historical pictures, which
raised his reputation to a considerable height previous to his quitting Italy.
Every way qualified to acquire future fame, employment, and improve his
fortune, in his progress to London, which he intended as the place he could
probably find the greatest patronage and encouragement in his art, he for a
period stopped at Hamburgh, where he practised with extraordinary success.
His reputation was now fixed, and on gaining the favor of James, Duke
of Monmouth, he had the honor, through that nobleman’s interest, to be
introduced to King Charles the Second, whose portrait he painted several
times, and on one occasion, that monarch condescended to visit him, at his
house in Covent Garden, merely to sit for his picture in a new attitude.
On the death of Sir Peter Lely, the most fascinating and fashionable painter
of his time, which took place soon after Kneller’s arrival in London, the
latter was left without a competitor in England, and from that period his
fame and fortune were completely established, he received the honor of knight-
hood from the hand of Charles, and became distinguished by every public
mark of honor; wherever he went, employment crowded on him, and that of
the most profitable description. He became successively, state painter to
Charles IL, James IL, William III., Queen Anne, and George I.; was equally
esteemed and respected by them all; was dignified with the title of knight of
the Holy Roman Empire, by the Emperor Leopold; and to crown all, his
own portrait was requested by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, in order to be
placed in the Florentine Gallery.
At the time when the Whig and Tory factions were at the highest pitch, a
society was formed by the principal nobility and gentry of England, in the
interest of the Protestant succession, under the name of the Kit Cat Club,
portrait
DIED 1726. AGED 78.
Sir Godfrey Kneller was a native of Lubeck, in the duchy of Holstein,
where he was born in 1648. At an early age, discovering a taste for drawing,
his friends placed him with Ferdinand Bol, a disciple of Rembrandt, under
whom he studied for a considerable time, and to improve himself farther in
the knowledge of his profession, travelled to Rome to consult the works of
the Italian school; after residing there some time, he proceeded to Venice,
and having the good fortune to obtain an introduction to some noble families,
was employed to paint many portraits, and some historical pictures, which
raised his reputation to a considerable height previous to his quitting Italy.
Every way qualified to acquire future fame, employment, and improve his
fortune, in his progress to London, which he intended as the place he could
probably find the greatest patronage and encouragement in his art, he for a
period stopped at Hamburgh, where he practised with extraordinary success.
His reputation was now fixed, and on gaining the favor of James, Duke
of Monmouth, he had the honor, through that nobleman’s interest, to be
introduced to King Charles the Second, whose portrait he painted several
times, and on one occasion, that monarch condescended to visit him, at his
house in Covent Garden, merely to sit for his picture in a new attitude.
On the death of Sir Peter Lely, the most fascinating and fashionable painter
of his time, which took place soon after Kneller’s arrival in London, the
latter was left without a competitor in England, and from that period his
fame and fortune were completely established, he received the honor of knight-
hood from the hand of Charles, and became distinguished by every public
mark of honor; wherever he went, employment crowded on him, and that of
the most profitable description. He became successively, state painter to
Charles IL, James IL, William III., Queen Anne, and George I.; was equally
esteemed and respected by them all; was dignified with the title of knight of
the Holy Roman Empire, by the Emperor Leopold; and to crown all, his
own portrait was requested by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, in order to be
placed in the Florentine Gallery.
At the time when the Whig and Tory factions were at the highest pitch, a
society was formed by the principal nobility and gentry of England, in the
interest of the Protestant succession, under the name of the Kit Cat Club,